Nancy Pelosi

Nancy Pelosi
Born	Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro 26 3, 1940
Birthplace	Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	First woman to serve as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
Education	Trinity Washington University (B.A.)
Spouse(s)	Template:Marriage
Children	5
Awards	Presidential Medal of Freedom (2024)

Nancy Patricia Pelosi (née D'Alesandro; born March 26, 1940) is an American politician who served as the 52nd Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Pelosi was the first woman elected to the speakership and the first woman to lead a major political party in either chamber of the United States Congress. She represented California's 11th congressional district, encompassing most of San Francisco, for over three decades beginning in 1987, and served as the leader of the House Democratic Caucus from 2003 to 2023—a tenure of 20 years that is tied with Joe Martin's record as the second-longest stint as a House party leader, after Sam Rayburn. Born into a prominent Baltimore political family and raised in the traditions of Democratic organizing, Pelosi moved to San Francisco with her husband, businessman Paul Pelosi, where she began her political career as a party volunteer before winning a special election to the House. Over the course of her career, she steered passage of major legislation including the Affordable Care Act, the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. In early 2026, Pelosi announced her plans to retire from Congress, prompting tributes from Democratic officials at the California Democratic Party convention in San Francisco.

Early Life

Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro was born on March 26, 1940, in Baltimore, Maryland, the youngest of six children and the only daughter of Thomas D'Alesandro Jr. and Annunciata M. "Nancy" D'Alesandro (née Lombardi). Her family was of Italian American heritage, and politics was central to the household. Her father, Thomas D'Alesandro Jr., served as a U.S. Representative from Maryland's 3rd congressional district from 1939 to 1947 and subsequently as Mayor of Baltimore from 1947 to 1959. Her brother, Thomas D'Alesandro III, also served as Mayor of Baltimore from 1967 to 1971.

Growing up in Baltimore's Little Italy neighborhood, Pelosi was immersed in the workings of Democratic politics from a young age. The D'Alesandro household frequently served as a hub for constituent services, and the young Nancy learned the mechanics of political organizing, voter outreach, and coalition building by observing her father's operations. She attended the Institute of Notre Dame, a Catholic all-girls high school in Baltimore, where she developed interests in political affairs and public service.

The family's deep roots in the Democratic Party and in Baltimore's Italian American community shaped Pelosi's understanding of the role of grassroots organizing in electoral politics. Her father's career demonstrated the possibilities of political life for the children of immigrants, and these formative experiences would later inform her approach to party leadership and legislative strategy in Congress.

Education

Pelosi enrolled at Trinity College (now Trinity Washington University), a Catholic women's college in Washington, D.C., where she studied political science. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1962. While attending Trinity, Pelosi had the opportunity to observe the workings of the federal government firsthand given the college's proximity to Capitol Hill and the broader Washington political establishment. During her time as a student, she attended the 1961 inauguration of John F. Kennedy, an event that reinforced her commitment to public service and the Democratic Party.

Career

Early Political Involvement

After graduating from Trinity College, Pelosi married Paul Pelosi in 1963. The couple initially lived in New York City before relocating to San Francisco, California, where Paul Pelosi pursued a career in business and real estate investment. During the late 1960s and 1970s, Pelosi focused primarily on raising the couple's five children while simultaneously becoming involved in Democratic Party politics as a volunteer and organizer in the San Francisco area.

Pelosi's organizational abilities and growing network within the California Democratic Party led to a series of increasingly prominent roles within the party apparatus. She served as a member of the Democratic National Committee and worked her way through party ranks in California. Her efforts culminated in her election as chair of the California Democratic Party, a position that gave her statewide influence and visibility. During this period, she also served as finance chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, demonstrating her fundraising acumen—a skill that would become one of her defining attributes as a political leader.

Election to Congress

In 1987, U.S. Representative Sala Burton, who represented California's 5th congressional district (later redistricted as the 8th and then 11th district), fell terminally ill. Burton endorsed Pelosi as her successor before her death. Pelosi won the subsequent special election on April 7, 1987, defeating San Francisco Supervisor Harry Britt in the Democratic primary and going on to win the general election. She took office at the age of 47, beginning what would become one of the longest and most consequential congressional careers in modern American history.

From the outset, Pelosi represented a district that encompassed much of San Francisco, one of the most liberal constituencies in the United States. Her voting record reflected the progressive values of her district on issues including environmental protection, civil liberties, and social welfare programs. She was reelected consistently by wide margins in every subsequent election cycle, eventually serving in her 20th term and becoming the dean of California's congressional delegation.

Rise Through House Democratic Leadership

Pelosi's ascent through the ranks of the House Democratic Caucus was steady and strategic. In 2001, she was elected House Minority Whip, the second-highest position in the Democratic caucus, defeating Steny Hoyer in a competitive internal election. When House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt stepped down after the 2002 midterm elections, Pelosi was elevated to House Minority Leader on January 3, 2003, becoming the first woman to lead a major party in either chamber of Congress.

As Minority Leader, Pelosi worked to unify the Democratic caucus and position the party to compete for the House majority. She proved to be a formidable fundraiser and a disciplined strategist, maintaining party cohesion on key votes and recruiting candidates for competitive districts.

First Speakership (2007–2011)

The 2006 midterm elections proved to be a watershed moment for the Democratic Party and for Pelosi personally. Running on widespread public dissatisfaction with the Iraq War and the Bush administration, Democrats won a net gain of 30 seats in the House, reclaiming the majority for the first time in 12 years. On January 4, 2007, Pelosi was elected Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, succeeding Republican Dennis Hastert and becoming the first woman to hold the position—placing her second in the presidential line of succession, the highest position in the U.S. government ever held by a woman at that time.

During her first term as Speaker, Pelosi established herself as one of the most active and influential speakers in modern history. She was a prominent opponent of the Iraq War and clashed with the Bush administration on military policy and foreign affairs. She also led the opposition to the administration's efforts to partially privatize Social Security, a stance that resonated with the Democratic base and older voters concerned about retirement security.

Pelosi's first speakership coincided with the election of President Barack Obama in 2008, and she played a central role in advancing the new administration's legislative agenda. Among the major bills she helped shepherd through the House were:

• The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, a $787 billion economic stimulus package designed to combat the effects of the Great Recession.
• The Affordable Care Act (ACA), the landmark health care reform law signed in March 2010, which extended insurance coverage to millions of Americans and reformed insurance industry practices. Pelosi's role in whipping votes and maintaining caucus discipline was instrumental in the bill's narrow passage.
• The Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which imposed sweeping new regulations on the financial industry in response to the 2008 financial crisis.
• The Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010, which ended the military's ban on openly gay and lesbian service members.
• The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010.

Pelosi's ability to pass the Affordable Care Act was considered one of her signature achievements as Speaker. The legislation faced intense opposition from Republicans and skepticism from some moderate Democrats, and its passage required sustained lobbying, negotiation, and procedural maneuvering.

The Democratic majority was short-lived, however. In the 2010 midterm elections, Republicans won a net gain of 63 seats in the House, reclaiming the majority in what President Obama described as a "shellacking." Pelosi lost the speakership to Republican John Boehner but chose to remain as leader of the House Democratic Caucus, taking on the role of House Minority Leader once again.

Minority Leader (2011–2019)

From 2011 to 2019, Pelosi served as House Minority Leader, with Steny Hoyer as her whip. During this period, she led the Democratic opposition to Republican legislative initiatives, including efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and proposals to restructure entitlement programs. Despite periodic challenges to her leadership from younger members of the caucus seeking generational change, Pelosi retained her position through a combination of fundraising prowess, institutional knowledge, and strategic skill.

Throughout her tenure as Minority Leader, Pelosi continued to be one of the most prolific fundraisers in American politics, raising hundreds of millions of dollars for Democratic candidates and committees. Her capacity to generate campaign funds gave her considerable influence over the composition and direction of the Democratic caucus.

Pelosi also served as chair of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.

Second Speakership (2019–2023)

In the 2018 midterm elections, Democrats regained control of the House, winning a net gain of 40 seats. Pelosi was elected Speaker for the second time on January 3, 2019, succeeding Republican Paul Ryan. This made her the first former Speaker to reclaim the gavel since Sam Rayburn in 1955.

Pelosi's second speakership was defined in large part by her contentious relationship with President Donald Trump. In December 2019, the House voted to impeach President Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress related to his dealings with Ukraine. The Senate acquitted Trump in February 2020, as the body did not reach the two-thirds majority required for conviction. Following the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, the House voted to impeach Trump a second time, charging him with incitement of insurrection. The Senate again acquitted Trump.

During the second speakership, Pelosi also presided over the House during the COVID-19 pandemic, which necessitated changes to legislative procedures and the passage of emergency relief legislation. Following the inauguration of President Joe Biden in January 2021, Pelosi worked with the new administration to advance a series of major legislative initiatives:

• The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package.
• The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill.
• The CHIPS and Science Act, aimed at boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing and scientific research.
• The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, addressing climate change, health care costs, and tax reform.

STOCK Act and Financial Disclosure Controversies

Pelosi's career was not without controversy. In 2011, a report by the television program 60 Minutes raised questions about whether members of Congress, including Pelosi, had benefited from stock trades based on nonpublic information gained through their legislative positions. A Pelosi aide described the report as a "smear." Pelosi subsequently supported the passage of the STOCK Act in 2012, which prohibited members of Congress from trading on nonpublic information and required greater financial disclosure.

The issue of congressional stock trading continued to follow Pelosi throughout her career. Reports about the investment portfolio managed by her husband, Paul Pelosi, drew recurring public scrutiny. As of February 2026, financial news outlets continued to report on the Pelosi family's stock holdings and their overlap with other prominent investors.

Foreign Policy

Pelosi was active on foreign policy matters throughout her career. As Speaker, she was involved in diplomatic engagements and took public positions on issues including relations with Turkey, China, and the Middle East. In 2007, she was involved in a diplomatic controversy regarding the Armenian genocide resolution in Congress, which strained relations between the United States and Turkey.

Retirement and Succession

In late 2022, following the Democratic loss of the House majority in the 2022 midterm elections, Pelosi announced that she would step down from her leadership role, though she would continue to serve as a rank-and-file member of Congress. Hakeem Jeffries of New York was elected as her successor as leader of the House Democratic Caucus, becoming the first Black American to lead a major party in either chamber.

By early 2026, Pelosi indicated her intention to retire from Congress entirely. The California Democratic Party convention held in San Francisco in February 2026 featured extensive tributes to Pelosi's career and legislative accomplishments. The race to succeed her in Congress attracted multiple candidates, with California State Senator Scott Wiener emerging as a leading contender, winning the endorsement of the California Democratic Party.

Even in the waning months of her congressional tenure, Pelosi remained active in party politics. In February 2026, she made a surprise endorsement in a Sacramento-area congressional race, a move that drew attention and deepened existing tensions within the California Democratic Party.

Personal Life

Nancy Pelosi married Paul Francis Pelosi in 1963, shortly after her graduation from Trinity College. Paul Pelosi built a career as a businessman and investor in San Francisco, operating Financial Leasing Services, Inc., a real estate and venture capital firm. The couple has five children: Nancy Corinne, Christine, Jacqueline, Paul Jr., and Alexandra. Alexandra Pelosi became a documentary filmmaker and journalist.

The Pelosi family has resided in San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood. Paul Pelosi's business dealings and investment activities have been the subject of public attention and media reporting throughout Nancy Pelosi's congressional career, particularly regarding the intersection of his stock trades and her legislative responsibilities.

On October 28, 2022, Paul Pelosi was attacked and seriously injured by an intruder at the couple's San Francisco home. The attack, which occurred in the weeks before the 2022 midterm elections, drew widespread condemnation from political figures of both parties.

Recognition

Pelosi's tenure as the first female Speaker of the House has been recognized as a milestone in American political history. Her election to the speakership in 2007 placed her second in the presidential line of succession, the highest position in the U.S. government held by a woman until Vice President Kamala Harris took office in January 2021.

In 2024, President Biden awarded Pelosi the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.

At the February 2026 California Democratic Party convention, party officials and elected leaders offered extensive praise for Pelosi's decades of service, citing her role in passing major legislation on health care, infrastructure, climate, and financial regulation.

Pelosi has been the subject of numerous books, profiles, and documentary films. Her daughter Alexandra Pelosi directed several documentary projects touching on American political life. In media and political commentary, Pelosi has consistently been identified as one of the most powerful speakers in the history of the House, particularly for her ability to maintain caucus discipline and pass complex legislation with narrow majorities.

Legacy

Nancy Pelosi's career in the U.S. House of Representatives spanned nearly four decades, during which she fundamentally altered the landscape of American legislative politics. As the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House, she broke a barrier that had stood for more than two centuries in one of the most powerful offices in the U.S. government. Her 20-year tenure as leader of the House Democratic Caucus, from 2003 to 2023, placed her among the longest-serving congressional leaders in American history, tied with Joe Martin and second only to Sam Rayburn.

Her legislative record as Speaker includes some of the most significant domestic policy enactments of the early 21st century. The Affordable Care Act, which she guided through a fractious and closely divided House, expanded health insurance coverage to tens of millions of Americans. The Dodd–Frank Act restructured financial regulation in the aftermath of the 2008 economic crisis. During her second speakership, under the Biden administration, she helped deliver the largest infrastructure investment in decades, landmark climate legislation, and major investments in domestic semiconductor manufacturing.

Pelosi's leadership style was characterized by her command of legislative procedure, her capacity for vote-counting and coalition management, and her fundraising abilities. She also drew criticism from political opponents who viewed her as a polarizing figure, and her image was frequently used in Republican campaign advertising to mobilize conservative voters.

As Pelosi prepared to leave Congress in 2026, the race to succeed her in California's 11th congressional district underscored the political legacy she had built in San Francisco and within the broader Democratic Party.